“For better cameras” like… I don’t see it. Back in the mid 2010s and late 2010s before the bump trend iPhone, Google and Samsung had the best phone cameras, and both were flat and with decent digital zoom and stability (for a phone). If you look at the photo samples for back then and compare it with now the difference is almost imperceptible.

That ugly bump makes big phones even harder to use and weight more now, plus if you’re one of those who never liked using a cover now I bet you’re forced to use one because of the added vulnerability of the bump.

Edit mid 2010s to late 2010s (until the camera bump appears around 2018)

  • ch00f@lemmy.world
    0·
    30 days ago

    I bought a Canon T2i in 2010. 19MP, APS-C sensor. Had it fitted with a $1200 17-55 F/2.8 IS lens. Used to bring it to family Christmas every year for the group photo until around 2016. My cousin handed me her phone to get the family on it as well.

    Between improvements in sensor technology, whatever post processing was happening at the time, and the lenses on the iPhone, it blew my camera away.

    It’s actually pretty hard to find a midrange camera now because phones are so good. I switched to a dumb phone last year. Best pocketable camera I could find to complement it that wasn’t a toy was the Ricoh GRIII which came out in 2019. Got a 4K camcorder. Best I could do was a Sony AX700 from 2018.

    • traches@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      0·
      30 days ago

      Any decent camera with an m4/3 or better sensor and a half decent lens will blow the best smartphones out of the water. Computational photography can’t beat physics.

      Edit: in good light they can get close, but the differences show up quickly in low light, if you crop, or if you look at it on anything bigger than a phone.

        • traches@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          0·
          29 days ago

          I haven’t had a chance to watch the video yet, but I will when I can, thanks for the recommendation!

          From personal experience, my 2 year old Phone 14 only competes with my 6 year old a6400 in perfect light when it comes to noise and sharpness. Indoors it’s not even close.

    • hobovision@lemm.ee
      0·
      30 days ago

      You might find the OM5 to be a good option if you still want a “real” camera that’s not point and shoot and still really small. With a pancake lense and big pockets it should be pocketable. I got a used EM5 which is the old version of a very similar body and with the pancake lense it feels like a point and shoot with good ergonomics and lots of manual control options.

      I think Lumix has some options as well.